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#501340 11/14/18 04:36 PM
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I've been following the news reports about the tragic fires in California, as I have some friends there - thankfully they're okay.
I know that Bob (Jazzmammal) recently moved from LA to the country; has anyone heard from him? He hasn't been on the forums for a while.
I hope he & his family are okay.


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Keith
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I sure hope so. The news reports are beyond awful. The death counts rising - whole city burned to the ground. Horrific stories of survival and death. All those burned out cars on the highway. it's just beyond imagination.

At my house we're praying for CA and everyone affected there. So sad.

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The worst fire in CA history. One of my good friends I play music with(we live by LA) had a best friend musician of 40 years who lived in Paradise 40 years of life guitars amps musicianship 3 pets gone entire home in an instant. They were lucky to get out alive they are searching for temporary housing in Sacramento. Last I heard still only 40 percent contained Prayers are much appreciated

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Sad..... prayers for the people involved and affected.


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Originally Posted By: Guitarhacker
Sad..... prayers for the people involved and affected.


Yes prayers for those people.

I have a friend whom had a good portion of his home lost in the fire about 6 months ago. He is living with one of his children in northern California and says the air quality is absolutely terrible.

I have two friends that I have not heard from and pray that they are all right.


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Some of you may remember user, Seeker. He posted links to more than 500 UserTracks he created. He lives about 80 miles from Sacramento, CA.

I know in years past fires have been a problem for him. Unfortunately the telephone number I have for him has gone straight to voicemail for many months as I've attempted to periodically contact him.

The stories coming out of California are both horrific and inspiring. Hopefully the state will get a break soon as resources are stretched to the limit.


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Originally Posted By: Jim Fogle
Some of you may remember user, Seeker. He posted links to more than 500 UserTracks he created. He lives about 80 miles from Sacramento, CA.

His old web support page places him down in Bangor, which is about 50 miles south of Paradise. So hopefully he's far away from the disaster.

Like everyone else, I've seen the pictures - it's unreal.

I'm down in Sacramento - over 100 miles south - and the smoke here has been pretty heavy. They've been cancelling schools and telling people to stay indoors. He's got to be pretty miserable up there, closer to the fire.


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We are 200 miles from Paradise CA. and the air quality here Is listed at 185 (ppm), unhealthy. The foothills which are less than 5 mi. are barely visible. The mountain ranges within 20 mi. cannot be seen.
As bad as it is today, the number for yesterday late afternoon was in the low 300’s.
Eyes and throats are burning and people can be seen with masks.
A high school friend and my son’s landlord lost their homes.
Just few observations.

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I've been following those stories closely, it's unreal what's happened up north but don't overlook Malibu. Yes, those are very rich people but still hundreds of big, expensive homes gone and those folks care about their personal lives too. Luckily only a few deaths there. Up in Paradise it's the perfect storm of isolation, very old wooden buildings, lots of hoarders with flammable stuff all over the place, poor internet or cell service and a whole forest backed right up to your porch. Oh, and one narrow winding road south and one north, that's it. That's why so many died in their vehicles. Too many switchbacks they couldn't make much headway away from the fire.

I moved the other direction to Warner Springs. It's in N. San Diego County about 40 miles from the huge fire around Julian 3 years ago. The weather here all week has been exactly the same as around Malibu. 8% humidity and Santa Ana winds blowing from the desert at 20-50 mph.

Everything around here is bone dry tinder. The electric company shut off my power from Tuesday morning until yesterday late afternoon. I was in LA last week and got home Tuesday afternoon to find no power. That totally sucked believe me. I just moved in last May and I'm still not completely settled yet. There were no fires anywhere around me and it didn't occur to me they would shut off power to this entire area as a precaution. Just to rub it in, this community was the very last to get the power back late Thursday.

I'm a big city boy, not a mountain man but up here I'm becoming one that's for sure. I had to run back into town Tuesday afternoon and I bought a 1600W generator. I know squat about them and got back after dark so I was unpacking it in my driveway by the lights on my car and a flashlight. Then I'm running extension cords all over my place in the dark but I got it all set up and saved the food in the fridge and put the lights on. Fun times. I'll be better prepared next time. At least I didn't get burned out or killed like so many have in other parts of the state.

Talking to other residents here there has never been a fire in the community but there have been plenty over the years in the general area. There's a Naval training base just a few miles down the road and I hear choppers frequently so that probably helps with fire control too. I'm told that when there's any little hot spot from a lightning strike they're on it immediately.

Bob



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Bob, first I am glad that you are safe.

Second, with all those forests gone will there be a lot more mud slides when the rains come? I would surmise yes. Would that hamper rebuilding?


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Mario,
“Would that hamper rebuilding?”
I believe that it was the mayor of Paradise who told TV reporters
that since so much was lost, many residents would not be returning
therefore taxes needed to rebuild the city’s infrastructure would not be coming in.
The mayor indicated 80-90% of the homes are gone!

Last edited by jazzsax; 11/16/18 12:17 PM.
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Originally Posted By: jazzsax
Mario,
“Would that hamper rebuilding?”
I believe that it was the mayor of Paradise who told TV reporters
that since so much was lost, many residents would not be returning
therefore taxes needed to rebuild the city’s infrastructure would not be coming in.
The mayor indicated 80-90% of the homes are gone!


Thanx for the info. It could take a long long time for the city's infrastructure to be rebuilt if a lot of tax money is gone. I never thought about that possibility.


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The updates concerning the California fires continue to get worse and worse each day. The poor Sheriff of Butte County (where the town of Paradise use to be) almost looks to be physically sick as he issues the ever increasing toll of dead and missing. More than 1,000 people are "living" in a makeshift tent city built in a Walmart parking lot. The air is unfit to breathe in much of the state. It's grim beyond anything anyone can imagine.


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My best friend lives incredibly close to the fires going on. About 3 hours by car away from Paradise, and about 5 hours away from Malibu. She has been incredibly sick from all the smoke. I've been really worried about her, but there's not much I can do for now but hope she's alright. It's just awful what's happening to everyone in those areas. All my thoughts are with them.


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Ember
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